Compare towns
Keene vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Westmoreland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Keene | Exeter | Stratham | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
16,151 |
7,754 |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Westmoreland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$104,444±$28k 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$351,800±$12k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,354±$280 9% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,643Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.